Dubai Municipality and Dubai Airports Join Hands to celebrate World Environment Day 2018

Wednesday 06 June, 2018

The Dubai Municipality is celebrating the official annual World Environment Day of 2018 by embracing the holy month of giving, Ramadan. This annual event, held by the UNEP, aims to bring together communities to raise awareness of environmental issues and inspire one another to unite for the planet. This year’s theme – “Beat Plastic Pollution” - centers around encouraging people to refuse single-use plastics and replace them with reusable options.

Eng. Alya Al Harmoudi, Director of Environment Department in Dubai Municipality, said that World Environment Day is a very important day for Dubai Municipality.

She stated that Dubai has a very rich and unique natural world and is home to a variety of protected areas that boast impressive species of biodiversity. “It’s important to understand that while admiring and protecting our own environment, we acknowledge that we are part of a global community, and that’s why these events are important,” said Al Harmoudi, emphasizing the importance of this year’s World Environment Day, as plastic pollution is becoming a prominent global issue.

Tasnim Salem Al Falasi, Head of the Environmental Awareness Section stressed the importance of a continued dialogue with the public and believes that “it’s our duty to educate the public about the natural world around them if we are to call on them to help us protect it”.

For more than 50 years, global production and consumption of plastics have continued to rise. An estimated 299 million tons of plastics were produced in 2013, representing a four percent increase over 2012, and the trend has been showing upward over the past years. In 2016, world plastics production totaled around 335 million tons.

As this year’s World Environment Day falls during the month of Ramadan, Dubai Municipality has partnered with Dubai Airports to organize a “Green Iftar” giveaway. As the public arrive at Dubai Airport, they will be handed a reusable shopping bag loaded with non-plastic packed foods such as fresh fruits and dates stored in reusable glass jars. The Green Iftar will take place from June 3rd to June 7th at Dubai Airport Terminal 1 Arrivals.

In order to further spread awareness of the important campaign message, many companies have offered their support to the Municipality. World Environment Day campaign posters will be prominently placed at 50 Emarat petrol stations across Dubai. Campaign posters will be shared and distributed among Goumbooks network of environmentally supportive companies and organizations. It will also be prominently placed across Vox cinema outlets across Dubai managed by Majid Al Futtaim.

Additionally, Dubai Municipality has created a hard-hitting video of a minute duration that tells the story of an Emirati man who ends his relationship with single-use plastic and replaces them for reusable alternatives. The video will be distributed to various outlets and social media accounts. Dubai Municipality’s activities for World Environment Day 2018 represent its continued efforts to protect and conserve our environment, both on a local and global scale.